My original question planned for this was a little different from one that Jlong suggested, but I think they go well together, so: answer one or both!

(a) What's something that you paid for, received, was exactly what you expected (not defective or misdescribed), but still felt regret just because you no longer wanted it? That "what was I thinking" moment...

(b) What's been your worst purchase experience, and what all went wrong? I am sure we all have had things go horribly wrong either with the seller or with the shipping service, or the payment service, or all three (Jlong I'm looking at you). For these answers, please let's keep it anonymous for the individual(s) responsible for your anguish here in public.

(a) Way back in my early days of collecting, I ran across an eBay listing for a signed mid-60s impression Hobbit that was ending in a few minutes. I rushed my investigation went with my gut and put in a bid and won. When it showed up, it was clear that the signature was on a tipped-in page that had been cut from another book - probably an academic book from his library, with an ownership signature, from much earlier (not his 60s signature for fans). Exactly as described in the auction listing, but I was in too much of a hurry! I learned a lot from that experience about identifying Tolkien's signatures (and carefully reading auction listings), and found someone who really wanted it in their collection - as is, for a fair price we were both happy with, and they got to handle the book and get a second opinion before we closed the transaction. I was very glad to find it a happy home, but it really wasn't something for my own collection.

(b) My luck has run the opposite direction here - I have had multiple packages of books I was sending to other people either go missing completely, show up empty, or get severely damaged. I think I made the recipient happy in each instance, but I get an ache every time I put something in the mail. And I want to scream every time a dealer sends me a book in a bubble envelope and the corners are all rounded...

(a) I’d count the newest History of Middle-earth deluxe set in this category. I was so on the fence that I think I pre-ordered and canceled it three times before finally deciding to stick with it. I’ve since gotten rid of it.

(b) I purchased a Super Deluxe Hobbit on Amazon from one of those algorithm type stores (before knowing better) but they had the ISBN wrong. I received a worthless U.S. edition and spent an unbelievable amount of time over the next six months trying to get my money back. I did, but there was no winner in that exchange.

My very worst might actually be recently, last year I think, when I bought a 1992 Unfinished Tales (the hardback that matches the UK HoMe first edition series). I nabbed it at a fair price just when it popped up on eBay only to have the buyer back out after other buyers started sending him offers. I raised my offer considerably but the seller insisted that his wife had ‘already sold it on another platform’. I’m hoping I’ll be able to let this one go if I can eventually find another copy!

My very worst might actually be recently, last year I think, when I bought a 1992 Unfinished Tales (the hardback that matches the UK HoMe first edition series). I nabbed it at a fair price just when it popped up on eBay only to have the buyer back out after other buyers started sending him offers. I raised my offer considerably but the seller insisted that his wife had ‘already sold it on another platform’. I’m hoping I’ll be able to let this one go if I can eventually find another copy!

That pisses me off, because it involves dishonest buyers that missed-out (that don't mind interfering with a completed sale) and a dishonest seller. There are some real assholes in the Tolkien-Book trading Community, and they all hang about on eBay as the regular Tolkien suspects, to be honest.

(a) There were definitely three mistakes as a novice collector I made which all involved signatures. My first mistake was I purchased a painting reprint of Tolkien that was signed--by the artist, of course, not Tolkien. The second mistake I made was buying an index card "signed" by Tolkien on eBay, and then later a paperback copy of The Hobbit "signed" by Tolkien. All of these occurred before I discovered TCG. The latter two I threw away a long time ago.

(b) I bought a 1st, 1st of Tom Bombadil on eBay. When it arrived, there was an inscription in the front that wasn't mentioned in the listing--this has happened to me more than once but aggravates me every time. At that time, eBay was set up quite differently. I messaged the seller several times to no avail. I requested her phone number and left messages to no avail. Finally, she replied to me via email with this nasty message that essentially said get over it and leave me alone. I left neutral feedback on eBay, and she retaliated and did the same. The only thing I regret is that I didn't leave negative feedback.

For (a): probably the purchase of signed copies of Alex Lewis & Elizabeth Currie's THE UNCHARTED REALMS OF TOLKIEN and THE FORSAKEN REALM OF TOLKIEN. I have no idea why I paid what I paid for these (from Andy at ADC Books); they're just sitting there, brand new, & I'm never going to read them. Ever. Please take them off me...

In respect to (b): I've never had any huge mishaps with anything really expensive apart from the Super Deluxe CoH. I had a quite early number (which I thought was important at the time) & the leather binding inside the front board was cut short or mis-bound; looked really scruffy. I remember being undecided what to do & asked someone for advise. They were like I'd be really unhappy with that copy, return it. So I did. HC were fantastic dealing with the courier return from my work & getting the other shipped out. Always wondered what happened to that copy, whether it was ever sold on or if it was scrapped...

I did speak earlier this year to HC about the Super Deluxe editions and how many S&G copies were unsold. They have all been sold through the Folio Society, all the remaining copies went very quickly by all accounts.

I can see them producing another Super Deluxe, and I once again mentioned the obvious Super Deluxe that has not been commercially sold and the fact that Amazon are making a TV series with the same name

Trotter wrote:I did speak earlier this year to HC about the Super Deluxe editions and how many S&G copies were unsold. They have all been sold through the Folio Society, all the remaining copies went very quickly by all accounts.

I can see them producing another Super Deluxe, and I once again mentioned the obvious Super Deluxe that has not been commercially sold and the fact that Amazon are making a TV series with the same name

Yeah, they sold out through the Folio Society in a couple of weeks. I was really surprised at the stampede to buy them, given they had been available for so many years. I'd buy a Super Deluxe LOTR if they did something like the one they did for internal distribution.

My 'mistake 'buy came a few years ago when I saw a two Towers first imp for sale on our favourite auction site. I asked if the seller would do a buy now and he said he would. He offered it at a bargain price £400 as I recall and I was very pleased to accept. I stressed it must be send tracked, signed and insured especially as coming from Germany. Sure enough less than a week later it arrived. Great NO I could tell straight away something was wrong as the postman handed me the box. I said should I sign for it , he said no it was only sent standard post! It was so light it was obvious nothing in it. On the bottom was a different type of tape !

I opened it and surprise no book just stuffed newspaper. I was steaming! After many many emails I was shafted well and truly. It was a private deal and paypal didn't want to know., The seller claimed it must have been stolen on route and his girlfriend forgot to get the insurance! Refused to refund !

No significant buyers remorse here. An occasional "OMG did I just spend THAT much" but that is all. Never been ripped off. Occasionally something goes astray in the post, but sellers (or Amazon/Ebay/PayPal) have always refunded me.These days it seems more risky to be a seller rather than a buyer on Ebay.